Daily Dose

Daily Dose of the DUB: WHL names weekly and monthly award winners, alumni signings and more!

Written by Paul Figler on

WHL Names Goaltender of the Week

The WHL has named Prince George Cougars Taylor Gauthier ‘Goaltender of the Week’. Gauthier was 3-0-0 during the past week while sporting a 1.35 goals-against average and a .958 save percentage. His record improved to 5-6-0-0, with a 3.10GAA and .907 save percentage.

WHL names Player of the Week

The WHL has named the Spokane Chiefs as ‘ Adam Beckman Player of the Week’. Beckman had seven points through three games last week, including a pair of hat tricks. The Minnesota Wild prospect now has 15 goals and nine assists through 17 games this season.

WHL names Player of the Month

The WHL named Winnipeg ICE forward Peyton Krebs ‘Player of the Month’ for April. Krebs earned 25 points through 14 games in April and is the current league leader in points with 43. He had a point in every game the ICE played in April and had a 23-game point streak. The season is over for the Winnipeg ICE and Krebs has been recalled by the Vegas Golden Knights.

WHL names Goaltender of the Month

The WHL named Edmonton Oil Kings Sebastian Cossa ‘Player of the Month’ for April. Cossa was 7-0-0-1 for the Oil Kings in April with a 1.61 goals-against average and a .936 save percentage. Cossa leads the league with a 1.64 GAA, is third overall with a .937 sv%, tied for first in wins with 15, and is third with 3 shutouts.

WHL names Rookie of the Month

The WHL named Winnipeg ICE Conor Geekie as ‘Rookie of the Month’ for April. Geekie had five multi-point games in April, going on to collect 15 points over 14 games. Geekie is now second in rookie scoring with 23 points (9G, 14A) in 24 games this season.

Puutio signs with KalPa

Defenseman Kasper Puutio (56GP, 5G, 23A with Swift Current and Everett ’19-’20) has signed a two-year contract with KalPa of Liiga. The 2002-born Puutio was eligible to return to the Silvertips for the 2021-22 season but chose to stay in his native Finland after playing the entire 2020-21 season at home. Puutio played 29 games with Karpat scoring twice and adding one assist. The Broncos selected Puutio first overall at the 2019 CHL Import Draft.

Krebs makes NHL debut

Less than a week after the conclusion of the Winnipeg ICE season, Peyton Krebs (199GP, 62G, 169A with Kootenay/Winnipeg ’16-’21) made his NHL debut with the Vegas Golden Knights. He earned an assist on the Golden Knights’ third goal in a 6-5 win. Krebs was a first-round pick of the Golden Knights at the 2018 NHL Draft.

Wiesblatt assigned to Barracuda

Forward Ozzy Wiesblatt (152GP, 48G, 90A with Prince Albert ’17-’21) has been assigned by the San Jose Sharks to the San Jose Barracuda. Wiesblatt just finished his third full season with the Raiders, scoring seven goals and adding 21 assists over 23 games. The Sharks selected Wiesblatt in the first round of the 2020 NHL Draft.

Spacek signs through 2023 with Frolunda

Forward Michael Spacek (120GP, 48G, 91A with Red Deer ’15-’17) has signed with the Frolunda Indians of the SHL. Spacek played 2020-21 with Tappara (Liiga) and HC Ocelari Trinec (Czech), becoming a Czech Extraliga Champion. The Winnipeg Jets selected Spacek in the fourth round of the 2015 NHL Draft. Red Deer selected Spacek 47th overall at the 2015 CHL Import Draft.

Kammerer signs with Kolner Haie

Forward Maximilian Kammerer (40GP, 1G, 2A with Regina ’13-’14) has signed with Kolner Haie of the DEL. This follows five of the last six seasons playing with Dusseldorfer EG. In 2020-21, Kammerer scored 11 goals and added nine assists through 34 games with Dusseldorfer. Kammerer was also loaned to Villacher SV of the ICEHL for six games where he scored two goals and added an assist.

HC Davos signs Stransky and Zgraggen

Forward Matej Stransky (213GP, 93G, 99A with Saskatoon ’10-’13) has signed with HC Davos of the National League. Stransky played 50 games with HC Ocelari Trinec of the Czech league in 2020-21, scoring 33 goals and adding 19 assists. He also had five goals and 10 assists in 15 playoff games while winning the Czech Extraliga. Stransky is an unsigned 2011 sixth-round NHL Draft pick of the Dallas Stars. The Blades selected Stransky 61st overall in the 2010 CHL Import Draft.

Defenseman Jesse Zgraggen (258GP, 12G, 58A with Chilliwack/Victoria, Calgary, and Regina ’10-’14) was also signed by HC Davos. Zgraggen had been loaned to Davos for 13 games in 2020-21, where he scored once and added two assists. He also played 19 games with EV Zug, where he had an assist. Through eight playoff games with EV Zug, Zgraggen did not register a point.

Kivisto signs extension with Jokerit

Defenseman Tommi Kivisto (65GP, 1G, 21A with Red Deer ’08-’09) has signed on for another season with Jokerit of the KHL. Kivisto played his fourth season with the team in 2020-21, scoring two goals and adding seven assists through 39 games. Kivisto was a seventh-round pick of the Carolina Hurricanes at the 2009 NHL Draft. The Rebels took Kivitso sixth overall at the 2008 CHL Import Draft.

Valach, Kytnar sign extensions with HC Slovan Bratislava

Defenseman Juraj Valach (129GP, 18G, 45A with Tri-City, Vancouver, Regina, and Red Deer ’06-’08) has signed a contract extension with HC Slovan Bratislava of Slovakia. Last season with the team Valach scored once and added eight assists through 45 games. The Americans selected Valach 20th overall at the 2006 CHL Import Draft.

Forward Milan Kytnar (172GP, 50G, 76A with Kelowna, Saskatoon, and Vancouver ’07-’10) has also signed an extension with HC Slovan Bratislava. In his second season with the club, Kytnar scored eight goals and added seven assists through 43 games. The Rockets selected Kyntar seventh overall at the 2007 CHL Import Draft.